this past year

What an interesting year, or should I say two years – somewhat difficult, somewhat rewarding and somewhat altering. Even though challenging, I don’t want to change what I went through the past year, I learned a lot about myself, about this world, about mental illness and about life.

In everything in life, there is something to be learned. Whether what we experience is positive or negative, it still teaches us.  And in anything in life, there is an opportunity to grow.

In all the bad of the past year, there was a lot of good too. If our lives were perfect all the time, there would be no fun in that. Maybe the word is not fun, maybe the word is improvement or growth. In any way, it can’t always be perfect and happy, sometimes we need, and I use the word need here, we need the imperfect.

In the past year, I was reminded in anything I face, I will survive, no matter how big or small.

This past year reminded me life is short, so tell the people you love and care about that they matter to you, it doesn’t have to be in big ways, sometimes just in small and simple ways.

Even with my mental illness, I know I can do anything I put my mind to. I understand I will face many obstacles, probably more than others, but I will never, ever stop myself from achieving what I want to achieve.  

This year reminded me being open about my illness is the best part about me. I don’t want to fit in, ever. I never have, and I never will. And even though, this will make my life more difficult than it already may be, I know that’s the second best thing about me.

This was the first time in all my years of living with a mental illness, that I felt we are more open to understanding mental illness. I will always be skeptical about this point, but I am also deeply optimistic.

This past year reminded me I will continue to learn and grow every single day of my life. Promise me, you will continue to learn and grow every single day of your life too, or at least, be open to it.